The new team is part of the Northwoods League, which is made up of 22 teams across the upper Midwest and Canada.

New ownership promised upgrades to the ballpark, fun promotions, and new food options-- things we've come to expect at Whitecaps games here in West Michigan.

Joe Chamberlin, CEO of the West Michigan Whitecaps said in a statement,

“We are incredibly excited to bring a new and exciting brand of baseball to Traverse City and the Northern Michigan region. We are confident that our track record of pairing baseball and other community events with fun, affordable family entertainment will translate well to this beautiful ballpark and this vibrant community."

For the new team name, the organization asked fans for input. After thousands of entries and an online vote, the new team name is...

When we started this process, our goal was to find a name that represents both this region and the core values of our organization. Pit Spitters hits it out of the park. Not only do we get to recognize Northern Michigan’s, and specifically Traverse City’s, unique agricultural history, we have created a name and a brand that screams FUN which is what we are all about. We hope that the Traverse City Pit Spitters become synonymous with affordable, family-friendly entertainment, strong community connections and a deep appreciation for everything that Traverse City and Northern Michigan have to offer as a region."